Ronaldinho tops world players' poll

Ronaldinho has been voted Player of the Season for 2005/06 by FIFPro, the worldwide organisation representing all professional players' associations.

Repeat success
The Brazilian forward's contribution to FC Barcelona's twin UEFA Champions League and Primera División triumphs did not go unrecognised by his fellow players, with Ronaldinho winning the poll of some 43,000 footballers from across the globe. He claimed the same accolade last year.

'A huge honour'
The 26-year-old, who scored 19 goals in 29 league games last term, and also helped Brazil to the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals in Germany, said: "This is a huge honour and also provides important motivation to keep striving for future progress." Ronaldinho's Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi, the 19-year-old Argentinian international forward, landed the Young Players' Player award while the Manchester United FC and Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo collected the Young Player Fan award. Another Camp Nou talent, Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, picked up a merit award for his positive contribution to the sport.

FIFPro World XI: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus); Lilian Thuram (FC Barcelona), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid CF), John Terry (Chelsea FC), Gianluca Zambrotta (FC Barcelona); Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan), Zinédine Zidane (retired), Kaká (AC Milan); Samuel Eto'o (FC Barcelona), Thierry Henry (Arsenal FC), Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona).